Who do I ask about chain formation

greensalad

Back with yet another dumb FTB question.

One thing I'm really struggling to understand through the process of buying a house, and the thing that most guides don't seem to mention (maybe because it's too variable) is who knows what, and who I should ask for what.

I know that our vendors have had an offer accepted on a property because I asked the EA. She said the offer was accepted through them, so I guess that's how she knows? 

But my question is I now want to know how the rest of the chain is forming and I don't know who is meant to give me this information? Presumably the EA doesn't know as beyond the two transactions that are happening through them (the property we're buying and the property our vendors are buying) it's outside of their remit. We do have a dedicated sales progressor if that makes a difference.

Is this a question for the solicitor? We appointed them and sent our deposit fee / paperwork this week so I'm expecting them to start proceedings soon, but I wanted to hold back on a few of the items they need to do until the chain formed. But I don't know who to nag for the information.

I've decided to try and chase relevant parties for information every 2 weeks (and every 1 week as we get further into the process), so I want to make sure I'm not chasing the wrong person!

kingstreet

Usually the EA. They talk to each other in a chain.

borkid

EA,  when our EA forwarded an offer on the property we were selling she had checked the whole chain. She told us everyone's position so that we could make an informed decision on accepting the offer.

greensalad

Thanks for the feedback. I'll fire off an email in a little while to see how the chain is going. Don't want to seem too pushy and I expect it'd take a while to form a chain but just worry about not being informed.

borkid

Our EA kept us informed, a phone call every couple of weeks and the house we purchased  another agent phoned us every week ( they even phoned the solicitors to see what was happening). We used to email our solicitor every week , we were cash buyers so only really the survey and the legal stuff to do also no chain as it was a probate property. Don't let the people working  for you foget you exist but do it in a friendly way.

Gavin83

We're in the process of buying a house at the moment. So the EA called us to let us know the chain was complete and how many people were in it. Also gave us a rough idea of how long he thought it would take.

In your position I'd just fire off an email or phone call to the EA to ask how the chain is going. They'll either give you an indication or tell you they don't know yet.

Justonemorecupoftea

The EA we are selling through will answer if we ask them a question. But the EA we are buying with proactively sends us updates every Friday, even stuff to do with our purchase that we didn't know! It's great!